Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-06-11

The newspapers Katy se&TS ago.
Chicago Times There are naen who
collect old books, who hunt and search
for them, who even buy them when
found, and take a pleasure in their
possession, but never yet has been
found the man TO gather together old
newspapers. And yet the newspaper
prints are the more instructive Of the
two; and, while they do not go fnT
back as regards date, they are the best
illustrations Of the habits and customs
of the generation with which they are
eontemporaneous-
Lying on tho table in front of the
writer are three copies of the Ontario
Repository. The papers were printed
IN 1881, and have now grown yellow
with time. So far as years 90, they
are not so very old, for Andrew Jack
son was President when they left the
press--an old Washington one it must
have been-and he is IN the memory OF
men now living. But the very appear
ance Of the papers themselves shows the
difference between that generation and
this. They were printed in Canandai-
qua, n. Y, and one of them, dated
FeE. 16, 1881, has for leading article
the report Of the Congressional Com
mittee on Manufactures. discussing
Jackson's message anent the tariff 1t
is q protectionist report. and reads
much like Republican speech of the
last campaign, but the remarkable
thing about it is that while CanandaiguA
is in New York. and Was then. and the
paper was issued Feb. Is, 1881, the
- Hata1
took more than month to get the in
formation from Washington TO the
place Of publication. A month mlsy
seem long time 10 carry Important
information few hundred miles, IN
these days of the telegraph,
when thoughts are flashed instan-
taneously all over the world, but
the European ness was yet slower of
travel. Under what would have been
the head Of -Cable News" had there
then been any cable or any headlines
for the news matter of these papers
ID put in without anything to show its
character-is clipping from the New
York american of Feb. Q. Due credit
| 10 given the paper from which the news
is taken, and the clipping shows that
khe matter 10 taken from London pa
pers Of Dec. "a and Jan 5. The news
covers the most Of Europe. some Of il,
/ as il gets INTO the realms OF Russia. Po-
land, and Italy, going back for IFS dates
ks far as September and August; bat
the paper-like one of its advertisers
who says he SELLS goods not much
higher than down East, and as low a
his neighbor honest enough 10
duly credit all its authorities and give
the correct dates, mot claiming special
or special cablegrams.s In fact, II
is hardly worth the papers time, as il
I seemed 20 have no rival IN the neigh
borhood; ut least, NO contemporary i
anywhere referred 10.
The most important news from
abroad is the trial of the four minister
Of Charles n, of France. and their con
demnation to perpetual imp Eisonment
with forfeiture Of title, rank, and for.
tune. The resignation, by Lafayette
Of the position Of Commander of ths
National Guards Of France. is alss
news concerning Lafayette seems to b
EeiEed upon as particularly Interesting
10 the American readers.
But the advertisements are especial
ly signs Of the times. EverJ
merchant Who calls his wares is modest
10 an extent that would surprtss che
one OF to-day. No one claims to sell
, goods less than cost: no one sells any
cheaper than his rivals He simply
! tells the reader that he has certain
! goods TO dispose Of, and ~hopes thai
| his friends will call upon him.- Thoss
, who make patent medicines are, how,
. ever, as noisy as any Of this day, and
. their single columns, next 10 reading
matter" are filed with testimonials
. from ministers, who live at . distance,
, the same as any of later date.
geographically, the papers Are
above criticism, being clearly and neat
y printed. The paper, Of course. i
poor, and now grown yellow, but ths
print is better than the average coqn
try weekly OF to-day. No attention
whatever is paid 70 local news. and ths
foreign matter is all taken from ex
changes, so the cost Of collecting mat
A. mn